Job Discussion Forums

[reactionary]

Well, I've received an offer to work in Shanghai. The job pays 13,000 a month (no housing) and doesn't pay at all during the winter or summer breaks (nearly 3 months per year in total) unless I take on extra work.

This is compared to 2.4 million won (~14,000 rmb) but with housing included and more benefits like pension, a real severance, and 4-6 PAID weeks of vacation, not counting national holidays.

The job in Shanghai would also most likely be a bit more work. More classes and likely travel between different schools.

I suppose I am beating around the bush. Is 13,000rmb/month for 9 months a year really doable? I'm shocked to see rents in Shanghai (and Beijing) rivaling those of Seoul...unless these are really nice places, 3500 rmb seems expensive compared to other living costs. Do people save anything at all? If I were to find extra work during my pay-less months, would I end up getting any time off at all? I'll miss my friends and the comfort zone I've created in Korea, but I'm also tired of the place and ready to move on. At the same time, it might not make much financial sense to do so.

[askiptochina]

I have been working at a high school (through a training school) in a Beijing district since mid-April. The following are figures to help you compare. I am in no way saying my job is better or worse, just giving you something to compare against.

Let's look at the salaries first.

Yours: 13,000 X 9 months = 117,000/year (without apartment)
Mine:7,000 X 12 = 84,000 (with apartment)

Difference is 33,000. Calculate rent for 12 months, and you have 2,750/month

Next, the hours.

Your job is probably 25 teaching hours, 15 hours office hours. You may have some transportation issues also since you mentioned going to several schools.

My job is 24 in the contract, but I have only been scheduled to teach 16-18 classes a week. Out of those, some days have been cancelled due to holidays or exams. I taught 8 classes last week and 10 classes the week before. This week week I just finished 18 classes, and my next work day is Tuesday next week. I teach 8, and then I am scheduled for 8 more on Thursday.

I am not saying it will stay like this, but we are entering summer vacation and I will probably have it easier until the new year starts up.

The downside, there are no other foreigners. I am 1.5 hours from the central part of Beijing. The last bus I can take is at 7:30. So, I go early in the morning and get a hotel. The cost is about 200 RMB.


Now, let's shoot for something in between, a job that pays you 12 months and gets you a better deal (financially at least).

A) 10,000/12 months with apartment = 120,000
B) 10,000/12 months without apartment = 120,000 minus 2,500/month = 90,000

You can get a better deal I feel if you find low hours with option A or normal hours with option B. From what I saw, this means kindergarten classes or adult training school. I personally don't like either and therefore opted to go to the high school further out from central Beijing. So far, I am definitely happy with the choice. However, in the long run, I am not sure if I will stay the whole year. It's not so much the distance, job, or people here. I just have other goals set out.

You should find your goals and figure how to achieve them. Make sure you go to Shanghai or Beijing because of them, not because of the money.

[reactionary]

Hi, thanks for the thorough response.

You're pretty much on the money about the job I have. It's with public schools, basically, and it's 28 periods a week (one period being 35 minutes). and likely a 40 hour work week all said.

So is 2,500 rmb fairly standard rent, or is that just what you pay? Would living in a fairly central (say, within 30-40 minutes of the center) location cost much more? Craigslist was disheartening to say the least.

I try to find reasonable information on rents, but unfortunately a lot of living in china info is written by expats who make a lot more than the standard english teacher, and i think their living standards might be a bit higher than mine. i'm used to living in studios, haha.

[morrisonhotel]

In the same boat as the OP. Just posting here so I get the notifications to keep up to date with the thread.

[askiptochina]